My UMR with Richard Kotovich - Coordinator of Counseling Services

Authored By: mknutson 09/30/2019

Richard KotovichHow did you hear about UMR/What brought you to UMR?
What attracted me to UMR was the opportunity to help 'set up' counseling on campus. Being the first official licensed counselor on staff provided a rare opportunity to define how counseling can work complementary to other student services in UMR’s unique model. 

What is your role at UMR?  
I coordinate counseling services on campus which means I provide direct individual counseling to students and provide specific referrals off campus if needed/wanted. Oftentimes, the process involved in counseling includes having an understanding of the current concerns, determining goals toward positive change and outlining the steps necessary to accomplish these goals.  

What is one of your favorite things about UMR?
We really do have a unique model here that I don't think is fully appreciated. Students are able to craft a unique college experience in health care that can’t be found in most other places.  

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
I’m naturally curious, so this answer may change depending on a book I'm reading or a podcast I'm listening to. Lately, I would say that something I'm drawn to is rural economic development. I see many small communities that are trying to navigate change and remain viable. A lot of the themes of hope and loss often play out as well. If I had unlimited resources, I think I would get involved in this topic. Also, doing just about anything outside is rewarding.  

If you could convince everyone in the world to do one thing at one point in time, what would that thing be?
Laugh about something. However, laughing is contagious so this can quickly get out of hand. 

What advice do you have for UMR students during their time here?
This is a tough question as my advice would likely be unique to each student so it's difficult to have to generalize my advice to all. But, if I had to offer general advice, it would be for students to figure out early how to compartmentalize their ability to do complex and difficult academic work and then to be able to mentally separate from it and explore other things. Students that are able to learn to use their study time efficiently to get into 'deep work' seem to do better at finding a balance between work and fun. This may be something each student needs to figure out on their own.